Here’s everything you need to know about NYC’s Dominican Day Parade

The 41st annual Dominican Day Parade returns to Midtown this Sunday, August 13. The parade brings together New York City’s Dominican community, the largest in the country, to celebrate their heritage with live music, parade floats, vibrant costumes, traditional dance, food, and more. First held in 1982, the parade started as a small celebration in Washington Heights. Hosted on the second Sunday in August, the parade commemorates the start of the Dominican Republic’s fight for independence from Spain in 1863. The theme for this year’s event is “Our History, Our People,” and for the first time in the parade’s history, the procession will be headed by Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, who will serve as Grand Marshal.

Expect to see thousands of marchers amidst a backdrop of red, white, and blue, the colors of the Dominican flag. Highlights of the parade include traditional dances like merengue, colorful floats, live performances, and the diablos cojuelo, colorful costumed marchers with long horned masks and bullwhips, which are a reference to the Dominican Republic’s Carnival celebration.

In addition to President Abinader, other prominent attendees include Dominican singer Natti Natasha as the queen of the parade and DJ Adoni as the King, according to NBC New York. Actress and model Celines Toribia will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, community advocate and entrepreneur Antonino Cabrera will be recognized as the Cacique of Hope, and Banda Real – Los Lideres will be honored as the International Band of the Year.

The parade will begin at noon, taking off from Sixth Avenue at 37th Street and traveling north to 52nd Street.

The city’s Department of Transportation has released the following information about the parade’s route and street closures:

Formation:

• 36th, 37th,38th Street between Broadway and 5th Avenue

Route:

• 6th Avenue between 36th and 52nd Street

Dispersal:

• 52nd Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue

Miscellaneous:

• 6th Avenue between West 35th Street and West 36th Street
• 38th Street between 7th Avenue and Broadway
• 47th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
• 50th Street between 6th Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
• 39th Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway
• 42nd Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway
• 45th Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway
• 48th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue